How to Properly Change a WordPress Theme (Ultimate Guide)

Just lately, considered one of our readers requested us the right way to correctly change a WordPress theme on their web site with out breaking something.

WordPress makes it tremendous straightforward to alter and handle themes. Nevertheless, it is advisable do not forget that altering the looks of your stay web site is a significant occasion. You could hold sure issues in thoughts earlier than and after you alter a theme so that you don’t lose any knowledge and web site site visitors.

On this article, we are going to present you the right way to change a WordPress theme with a step-by-step guidelines.

Why Change a WordPress Theme?

You could need to change the theme in your WordPress website to make it higher match your area of interest.

For instance, when you run a fashion blog, then you definately may need to swap to a theme with the model of an expert trend web site.

Switching to a unique theme also can give your web site a recent look, improve the person expertise, and even improve your site’s SEO by making it simpler for serps to crawl and index your content material.

Plus, some WordPress themes include built-in options that you could be want in your web site. For example, some themes embody options for eCommerce, membership websites, and portfolios.

Having stated that, let’s see the right way to correctly change a WordPress theme in your web site. Right here’s a fast overview of what you’ll study on this article:

Issues to Do Earlier than Altering a WordPress Theme

When you can simply change a theme with just some clicks, you could take some precautionary steps earlier than beginning this course of.

We advocate that you simply undergo the next guidelines to make sure that the method of fixing your WordPress theme goes easily and that you simply don’t find yourself shedding essential knowledge.

1. Copy Snippets from Your Present Theme

Some intermediate WordPress customers wish to customise their web site by including code snippets on to the theme’s functions.php file.

Since these modifications had been made as soon as, folks normally neglect about them.

If you happen to or your internet developer made these modifications, then be sure that to undergo the recordsdata of your present theme and observe all the extra code you’ve added beforehand. This may let you add these snippets later into your new theme’s features.php file or a site-specific WordPress plugin.

For extra particulars, simply see our information on how to properly add custom code in WordPress.

2. Take a look at Load Time

Earlier than altering your theme, you need to examine the load time of your web site. This may help you simply evaluate the variations within the web page load time after you make modifications to your web site.

Bear in mind, WordPress speed is a vital think about person expertise and Search engine marketing, so it is advisable be sure that the brand new theme is quicker than your earlier one.

You may examine your web site pace by utilizing a WordPress speed test tool. For extra directions, see our information on how to run a site speed test.

Just be sure you take a look at the load time of the homepage and likewise a few of your inside pages.

3. Don’t Lose Any Monitoring Code

Some customers add their analytics monitoring code on to their theme recordsdata. Additionally, some WordPress themes let you add AdSense or Analytics code of their settings panels.

One of the widespread errors inexperienced persons make is to miss these code snippets.

You could just remember to copy all of the monitoring code so you possibly can add it to your new web site after altering the theme.

To future-proof this, we at all times advocate customers install Google Analytics utilizing a plugin like MonsterInsights. This plugin helps you to view the analytics and studies immediately out of your WordPress dashboard with out having so as to add any monitoring code to the theme recordsdata.

However, for different monitoring codes like advertisements, we advocate utilizing WPCode. For detailed directions, see our tutorial on how to properly add Google AdSense to WordPress.

4. Make a Full Backup

It’s at all times advisable to again up your posts, photos, plugins, and the database earlier than altering your theme.

You should use a WordPress backup plugin like Duplicator to create a backup of your complete web site. Just be sure you obtain this backup to your pc earlier than transferring ahead.

This step will guarantee which you could get well your web site simply if something goes incorrect.

For extra data, you possibly can see our newbie’s information on how to back up your WordPress site.

5. Sidebar Content material

Sidebars are used for including totally different widgets together with social hyperlinks, commercials, subscription kinds, or a contact form.

Make a remark of those modifications. If there may be any customized code added to a widget, then be sure to copy and paste this code in your pc with the intention to reuse it in your new theme.

6. Maintain Your Web site in Upkeep Mode

It’s an excellent follow to put your website in maintenance mode if you end up making modifications to it. This will forestall customers from seeing an incomplete web site and guarantee a easy transition to a unique theme.

We advocate utilizing SeedProd for this function.

It’s the best WordPress page builder available on the market that permits you to simply create coming quickly and upkeep mode pages on your web site.

First, it is advisable set up and activate the SeedProd plugin. If you happen to need assistance, then observe our step-by-step information on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Notice: You should use SeedProd’s free plan to allow upkeep mode. Nevertheless, upgrading to the premium model will unlock extra options like pre-built templates, superior customization options, and electronic mail advertising and marketing software integrations.

Subsequent, head over to the SeedProd » Touchdown Pages display out of your WordPress dashboard and click on the ‘Arrange a Upkeep Mode Web page’ button.

After that, you could choose a template on your upkeep mode web page. You may also use a clean template and create a web page from scratch.

To decide on a template, merely hover your mouse over a thumbnail after which click on the examine icon.

Now you can use SeedProd drag-and-drop web page builder to customise your web page. Merely add new blocks by dragging them from the menu in your left.

SeedProd helps you to add normal blocks for textual content, photos, buttons, and headlines. It additionally gives superior blocks, together with contact kinds, giveaways, social sharing choices, and way more.

Don’t neglect to save lots of your modifications by clicking the ‘Save’ button within the prime proper nook.

After that, head over to the ‘Web page Settings’ tab and alter the Web page Standing by toggling it to ‘Publish.’

When you do this, click on the ‘X’ icon on the prime left nook of the display to exit the drag-and-drop builder. This may open a immediate on the display asking you to activate the upkeep mode.

From right here, merely click on the ‘Sure, Activate’ button to show the upkeep mode to the customers visiting your web site.

If you happen to want extra inspiration to create a upkeep mode web page, then you possibly can see our record of maintenance page ideas that you can use on your WordPress site.

Find out how to Set up a WordPress Theme

After following the above precautions, the following step is to put in a theme that you simply need to use in your web site.

When you’ve chosen a theme, it is advisable set up it in your WordPress web site. You should use any of the next 3 strategies to put in a WordPress theme:

• Utilizing the WordPress theme search choice
• Importing a theme out of your WordPress dashboard
• Putting in a theme utilizing FTP

For extra data, you possibly can examine our beginner’s guide on how to install a WordPress theme.

There are millions of free and paid WordPress themes accessible so that you can decide from. The truth that you might be studying this text means you’ve seemingly discovered an excellent theme on your wants.

Nevertheless, when you haven’t already chosen a theme, then we are able to extremely advocate the next WordPress themes:

1. Astra

Astra is a light-weight and speed-optimized WordPress theme that’s appropriate with common web page builder plugins like SeedProd, Beaver Builder, Divi, and Visual Composer.

It’s a translation and RTL-ready theme. It permits you to begin your web site in any language and even create a multilingual web site.

Astra can be built-in with the WooCommerce plugin, so you possibly can simply create an online store with out a lot problem. You may even customise the header, footer, structure, and extra utilizing the WordPress Theme Customizer.

Our favourite factor about Astra is all of the starter web site templates it comes with. It has greater than 250 choices for all types of niches, together with enterprise web sites, on-line shops, and private blogs.

2. Divi

Divi is without doubt one of the hottest WordPress themes available on the market. It’s powered by the drag-and-drop Divi Builder, which lets you simply construct any type of web site.

It comes with over 2000 pre-built layouts and 200 totally different content material components. You may simply customise every component of your web site and see the modifications in actual time.

Plus, Divi can also be tremendous Search engine marketing-friendly and may help your web site rank greater in Google and different serps.

3. SeedProd

SeedProd is the best WordPress theme builder available on the market, with over 1 million energetic customers.

We already talked about you should use it to create a upkeep mode web page. However you may also use it to create a custom WordPress theme with out writing any code.

SeedProd comes with a drag-and-drop builder and 300+ professionally designed templates to get you began. You may simply customise your theme with ready-made blocks, good sections, and WordPress template tags.

It additionally exhibits a real-time preview of all of the modifications on the correct aspect of the display, so you possibly can see how your web site will seem to customers earlier than it’s even revealed.

4. StudioPress Genesis

Genesis is the most well-liked WordPress theme framework constructed by the StudioPress staff. You may create superb web sites utilizing the Genesis framework and different StudioPress themes.

In case you don’t know, StudioPress is part of WP Engine, the most well-liked managed WordPress hosting company.

The perfect half is you’ll get 35+ StudioPress themes at no cost when you join any WP Engine internet hosting plan.

5. OceanWP

OceanWP is a responsive and multi-purpose WordPress theme. It gives a number of demo templates which were constructed with totally different professions and companies in thoughts.

It’s appropriate with the foremost web page builder plugins. You may also use totally different extensions to take your web site to the following degree.

Find out how to Change WordPress Theme With out Going Reside

When you’ve put in your new theme, you might be prepared to change themes.

Nevertheless, it’s at all times advisable to check a theme earlier than switching to it in your stay web site.

This manner, you’ll be capable to examine the compatibility of the brand new theme together with your present plugins and be sure that every thing is working correctly.

There are 3 ways which you could change your WordPress theme with out going stay.

1. Reside Preview Choice

By default, WordPress permits you to preview a theme in your web site with out altering it.

To do this, head over to the Look » Themes web page from the WordPress admin sidebar.

On this web page, you’ll see all of the put in themes in your web site. Go forward and hover your mouse over the theme you need to preview and click on on the ‘Reside Preview’ button.

This may open your new theme within the WordPress Theme Customizer.

Now you can take a look at your new theme and be sure that every thing is working correctly.

2. Theme Switcha Plugin

An alternative choice is to make use of the Theme Switcha plugin. It permits you to preview your new theme with out activating it.

First, it is advisable set up and activate this free plugin. For detailed directions, see our step-by-step information on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Upon activation, go to the Settings » Theme Switcha web page from the WordPress dashboard and examine the field subsequent to the ‘Allow theme switching’ choice.

When you do this, scroll to the underside of the web page to click on the ‘Save Modifications’ button.

This plugin will now show all of your put in themes on the backside of this web page.

From right here, merely click on in your new theme to preview it in a brand new internet browser tab.

3. Take a look at Your Theme on a Staging Web site

You may also take a look at your WordPress theme with out making it stay by making a staging web site. This web site is a clone of your stay web site and is used for testing any type of modifications.

You may simply do that by utilizing your internet hosting supplier’s built-in staging web site function. For this tutorial, we might be utilizing Bluehost.

First, you could go to your Bluehost cPanel and click on the ‘My Websites’ button. When you do this, swap to the ‘Plugins’ tab and activate the The Bluehost Plugin.

Subsequent, go to your WordPress dashboard and head to the Bluehost » Staging web page.

From right here, click on on the ‘Create Staging Web site’ button to proceed.

Bluehost will now put together the staging surroundings for you.

After that, it is going to show the ‘Staging Web site’ part the place you could examine the ‘Not presently modifying’ field.

This may open a immediate on the display asking you to change to your staging web site.

From right here, click on the ‘Swap’ button.

When you do this, you possibly can head to the Look » Themes web page from the dashboard and activate any theme that you simply need to take a look at with out worrying about it affecting your stay web site.

Then, when you’re proud of the theme, you possibly can simply push the modifications stay.

For extra particulars, you possibly can see our newbie’s information on how to easily create a staging environment for a WordPress site.

Find out how to Change WordPress Theme on a Reside Web site

After you could have examined your new theme, it’s time to start out the method of switching the theme in your WordPress web site.

To do that, go to the Look » Themes web page from the WordPress admin sidebar.

As soon as you might be there, simply hover the mouse cursor over the theme you need to use after which click on the ‘Activate’ button to alter the WordPress theme.

Now, you possibly can go to the homepage of your web site to see the brand new theme in motion.

Find out how to Change WordPress Theme Manually

Generally, an error could make your WordPress admin area inaccessible. In that case, you received’t be capable to change the theme utilizing the above methodology.

To get well your web site, it is advisable restore it from backup or troubleshoot the WordPress error inflicting the issue.

Nevertheless, when you don’t have a backup, then you possibly can change the theme manually with the assistance of phpMyAdmin.

This methodology permits you to inform WordPress which theme to make use of by altering the knowledge within the database.

First, it is advisable connect with your web site using an FTP client and go to the /wp-content/themes/ folder.

Right here, you’ll be capable to see all of the themes which are presently put in in your web site. You may also install a WordPress theme via FTP when you don’t see it.

Subsequent, you need to write down the folder title of the theme you need to use as a result of you’ll need it later.

After that, head over to the cPanel of your WordPress hosting account. For this tutorial, we might be utilizing Bluehost. Nevertheless, your cPanel might look totally different relying on the internet hosting service that you simply use.

On this web page, scroll right down to the phpMyAdmin part and click on the ‘Handle’ button subsequent to it.

As soon as you might be in phpMyAdmin, you’ll see an inventory of databases on the left aspect of the display. From right here, click on on the database that you’re utilizing on your WordPress web site.

This may open all of the database tables in the correct column of the display. Now, go forward and click on on the wp_options desk to open it up.

Notice: By default, WordPress makes use of wp_ because the prefix for the desk names. Nevertheless, it’s doable to have a different database prefix, as proven within the picture.

This may open an inventory of different recordsdata that had been saved within the wp_options desk.

From right here, you could find the template and stylesheet rows in the correct panel.

When you do this, click on on the ‘Edit’ hyperlink within the template row to open the editor.

Right here, it is advisable change the worth within the option_value area to the theme title that you simply need to use.

It’s normally the identical because the folder title within the /wp-content/themes/ folder that you simply copied earlier.

As soon as you might be performed, click on on the ‘Go’ button to save lots of the modifications. Subsequent, go forward and repeat the identical course of for the stylesheet row.

After making modifications to each rows, you possibly can go to your web site to see the brand new theme in motion.

Issues to Do After Altering Your Theme

When you’ve modified the theme in your web site, it is advisable deal with sure issues earlier than turning off upkeep mode.

You may take a look at the next guidelines of issues to do after altering your WordPress theme.

1. Take a look at Your Web site

First, it is advisable be sure that all of the functionalities, plugins, and widgets are working correctly in your web site.

It’s best to make investments a while to check your web site and take a look at various things together with the posts, remark part, photos, and phone kind.

As soon as you might be happy with how your web site seems to be and works, you possibly can transfer to the following step.

2. Cross Browser Compatibility

Browsers tend to point out sure issues in another way.

To be sure that your web site seems to be good in each main browser, you need to test your site in different web browsers, together with Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Web Explorer.

3. Add Monitoring Code

After you’ve examined the options and the cross-browser compatibility, you need to add your analytics and AdSense monitoring code to your web site.

You should use the MonsterInsights plugin so as to add the Google Analytics monitoring code. This may let you correctly arrange analytics and consider detailed web site stats proper inside your WordPress dashboard.

For extra particulars, see our information on how to install Google Analytics in WordPress.

For including Google AdSense monitoring code, you possibly can learn our information on how to properly add Google AdSense to your WordPress site.

4. Flip Off Upkeep Mode

Now you can disable upkeep mode in your web site to make it go stay.

If you’re utilizing the SeedProd plugin, merely go to the SeedProd » Touchdown Pages display out of your WordPress dashboard and click on the toggle to ‘Inactive’ to show off the upkeep mode.

5. Take a look at Loading Time

Upon altering your theme, we advocate utilizing the IsItWP Website SpeedTest Tool once more to check the loading time of your homepage.

Subsequent, evaluate it to the load time when your previous theme was put in. If you happen to see any main variations, then you possibly can observe our information to improve WordPress speed.

6. Monitor Bounce Charge

After switching themes, you need to monitor the bounce fee of your web site.

In case your new theme just isn’t user-friendly and tough to navigate, then it could improve the bounce fee and drive guests away out of your web site.

You may add associated posts, common posts widgets, and breadcrumbs to reduce the bounce rate and increase page views.

7. Ask for Suggestions

You may also ask your customers for suggestions and recommendations on the right way to enhance your web site design. You should use survey kinds or online polls to collect person enter.

For instance, you may use person suggestions so as to add a two-question survey immediate in your web site. For detailed directions, see our tutorial on how to create a survey in WordPress.

You may share the brand new design together with your subscribers utilizing an email marketing service and ask them for his or her recommendations. This may provide help to to get concepts for what they want to see improved.

Bonus: Replace a WordPress Theme With out Shedding Customization

Upon getting switched to a unique theme and customised it based on your liking, it would be best to hold that theme often up to date to the newer variations.

Nevertheless, whenever you replace a theme, you possibly can lose among the customization settings. For instance, you’ll lose all of the code that you’ve got added to the theme’s features.php file, stylesheet, or templates.

Nevertheless, you possibly can simply replace a WordPress theme with out shedding all of your customization by making a child theme.

This theme will inherit the father or mother theme’s performance, options, and magnificence. You may then customise the kid theme with out making any modifications to the unique one.

Subsequent, you could establish the entire modifications you made to your theme and replica them over to the kid theme. The best approach to do that is by evaluating your previous and new theme recordsdata utilizing software program like WinMerge or Kaleidoscope.

When you make the modifications, merely export the customizer settings from the father or mother theme and import them to the kid theme.

Upon doing that, you possibly can preview your modifications within the customizer and click on the ‘Save & Publish’ button to make these modifications stay.

For extra detailed directions, see our tutorial on how to update a WordPress theme without losing customization.

One other strategy to replace your theme with out shedding any customization is to at all times add your customized code with WPCode. It’s the greatest WordPress code snippet plugin available on the market that makes it tremendous straightforward and secure so as to add customized code to your web site.

When utilizing this plugin, you received’t have to fret about shedding the customized code in your features.php file, stylesheets, or templates whenever you replace your theme.

It is because the code might be saved in WPCode and can mechanically be executed in your web site. For particulars, see our full WPCode review.

We hope this step-by-step information helped you correctly change your WordPress theme. You might also need to see our newbie’s information on how to use the WordPress theme customizer and our prime picks for the must-have WordPress plugins for business websites.

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